TESTS ON EQUAL FLANGED BEAMS BRACED AGAINST TWISTING ON THE TENSION FLANGE

The paper describes experimental work conducted to confirm theoretical analyses of the behaviour of simply supported beams under uniform moment in which the tension flange only is braced against twisting and lateral displacement. The beams tested have all been of the same cross-section but the slenderness ratio, brace stiffness and brace configuration have been varied. Of prime interest was the effect of brace stiffness on the critical moment. The practical problem occurs in low rise industrial buildings where the beam is subjected to moment in the presence of low axial loads and where the braces are purlins or gits. In general the theoretical predictions are vindicated by the tests. /Author/